Sheffield Steelers owner happy with new squad

Sheffield Steelers’ owner Tony Smith believes he may now have the team that he’d always hoped for.

Smith believes the recruitment skills of coach Gerad Adams along with the retention of core British players may provide the on-ice drama and explosiveness he hasn’t seen in previous teams.

“I like what I see” he says. “For a few years I have wanted to see a fast aggressive team that is exciting and knows how to entertain our crowd. This team is far more exciting than some of our previous ones.”

Like every ‘fan’ Smith has his favourites: “Darrell Hay looks very good and Colton Fretter looks like he will be exceptional. All the new imports seem good, but the British players have gone up a level too. They are all benefitting from G’s leadership.”

Smith said stand-in skipper Jason Hewitt had been exceptional - showing the form he displayed under Ben Simon.

“We will have Tyler Mosienko (suspended) and Jono Phillips (operation) coming back into this side, too.”

Steelers host Fife on Sunday at iceSheffield.

Tomorrow they are on the road at Kirkcaldy.

*Several English Premier League teams have been subjected to drug tests in the last few days.

Sheffield Steeldogs say they have ‘zero tolerance’ on drugs.

* This weekend sees the final training squad trials for Great Britain Women at Ice Sheffield.

After a two-day camp at Bracknell and the off-ice camp at the University of Gloucester, the final selection for the training squad is made this weekend.

Head coach, Paul Burton, said: “The selection process is transparent and players wanting to trial just have to apply.

“We have had a good response from the players and the open trials have allowed us to see over 50 players in the last two months.

“The training squad will work together both on and off the ice over the next three months, before being joined by players from overseas at Christmas.

“The overseas players are all monitored on a monthly basis by the on and off-ice teams and have the same targets as the UK-based players.”

January sees the GB team and reserves for the World Championship tournament in Dumfries being announced.